Coordinated background TV recognition

Abstract

Techniques to coordinate ambient media detection are disclosed. A request to become active in performing media detection processing with respect to the audio environment is received from a first ambient media detection agent associated with an audio environment. A response denying the request is sent to the first ambient media detection agent if it is determined that a second ambient media detection agent associated with the audio environment currently is active in performing media detection processing with respect to the audio environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of coordinating ambient media detection, comprising:
 in response to receiving from a first ambient media detection agent in an environment, via a communication interface, a request to become active in performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment:
 determining, via a processor, that a second ambient media detection agent is active in the environment currently performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment; and 
 based at least on the determination, sending to the first ambient media detection agent, via the communication interface, a response of whether to permit or deny the request, 
 
 wherein the request from the first ambient media detection agent comprises sample audio from the environment, 
 wherein the determination is based on whether sample audio from the second media detection agent indicates that the second ambient media detection agent is active in the environment, and 
 wherein performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment comprises extracting a set of audio features from the audio in the environment. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first ambient detection agent and the second ambient detection agent are associated with a same client device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first ambient detection agent comprises software code associated with a first client application installed on the client device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second ambient detection agent comprises software code associated with a second client application installed on the client device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the software code associated with a first client application and the software code associated with a second client application are associated with a software development kit (SDK) or other code configured to perform media detection. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request is received at a server configured to perform media recognition processing based on a set of features received from either the first ambient media detection agent or the second ambient media detection agent, wherein the extracted set of features are audible audio portions from the media content. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a first request and further comprising receiving from the first ambient media detection agent at a subsequent time subsequent to the first request a second request from the first ambient media detection agent to become active in performing media detection processing with respect to the audio in the environment; determining at or near the subsequent time that no other ambient media detection agent is active currently in performing media detection processing with respect to the audio in the environment; and providing, based at least on the determination, a response granting the subsequent request by the first ambient media detection agent to become active in media detection processing with respect to the audio in the environment. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first ambient media detection agent is associated with a first client device associated with the environment and the second ambient media detection agent is associated with a second client device associated with the environment. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination that the second ambient media detection agent associated with the environment currently is active in performing media detection processing with respect to the environment is made based at least on a stored time associated with a last media detection-related data received from the second ambient media detection agent. 
     
     
       10. A system to coordinate ambient media detection, comprising:
 a communication interface; and 
 a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to:
 in response to receipt, from a first ambient media detection agent in an environment, via the communication interface, a request to become active in performing media recognition processing with respect to audio in the environment: 
 determine whether a second ambient media detection agent is active in the environment performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment; and 
 based at least on the determination, send to the first ambient media detection agent, via the communication interface, a response of whether to permit or deny the request, 
 
 wherein the request from the first ambient media detection agent comprises sample audio from the environment, 
 wherein the determination is based on whether sample audio from the second media detection agent indicates that the second ambient media detection agent is active in the environment, and 
 wherein performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment comprises extracting a set of audio features from the audio environment. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first ambient detection agent and the second ambient detection agent are associated with a same client device. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first ambient detection agent comprises software code associated with a first client application installed on the client device. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the second ambient detection agent comprises software code associated with a second client application installed on the client device. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the software code associated with a first client application and the software code associated with a second client application are associated with a software development kit (SDK) or other code configured to perform media detection. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the request is received at a server configured to perform media detection processing based on a set of features received from either the first ambient media detection agent or the second ambient media detection agent. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the request comprises a first request and the processor is further configured to receive from the first ambient media detection agent at a subsequent time subsequent to the first request a second request from the first ambient media detection agent to become active in performing media detection processing with respect to the audio in the environment; determine at or near the subsequent time that no other ambient media detection agent is active currently in performing media detection processing with respect to the audio in the environment; and provide, based at least on the determination, a response granting the subsequent request by the first ambient media detection agent to become active in media detection processing with respect to the audio in the environment. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first ambient media detection agent is associated with a first client device associated with the environment and the second ambient media detection agent is associated with a second client device associated with the environment. 
     
     
       18. A computer program product to coordinate ambient media detection, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
 in response to receiving, from a first ambient media detection agent associated with an audio environment, via a communication interface, a request to become active in performing media recognition processing with respect to audio in the environment: 
 determining, via a processor, whether a second ambient media detection agent is active in the environment performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment; and 
 based at least on the determination, sending to the first ambient media detection agent, via the communication interface, a response of whether to permit or deny the request, 
 wherein the request from the first ambient media detection agent comprises sample audio from the environment, 
 wherein the determination is based on whether sample audio from the second media detection agent indicates that the second ambient media detection agent is active in the environment, and 
 wherein performing media recognition processing with respect to audio content recognition in the environment comprises extracting a set of audio features from the audio environment.